1873.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



33 



be made as long as the width of the upper 

 chamber, with a half circle cut out at each end, 

 large enough for the forefinger, by which to 

 lift the frame. As there should always be some 

 short space between two colonies, these close 

 tops give great facility of handling the frames, 

 by inserting the blade of a chisel or a screw 

 driver between the frame you want to lift and 

 either one adjoining, you have plenty of leverage 

 to move easily the whole of that side together, 

 as the frames rest on a line only, and there can 

 be no squeezing of the bees between the combs, 

 or disturbance in any way. 



The chamber above the frames, two inches 

 high in front and four in the rear, (to give 

 slope to the roof,) affords plenty of room for 

 winter covering, and as the roof-sections can be 

 only slightly attached along the line of support 

 even if the bees have free access to this cham- 

 ber, the roof can be removed and replaced with- 

 out disturbing them. The depth and shape of 

 of this upper chamber can of course be made 

 differently, if further trial recommends a 

 change. 



The bees of all the colonies in the hive can be 

 interchanged in any way advisable ; for instance, 

 if your colonies are all of only moderate strength 

 and not prepared to take advantage of any sud- 

 den great yield of honey, you can remove 

 one half the colonies, and the old bees return- 

 ing will make those left of abundant strength 

 for gathering the harvest; after which they 

 can be restored to statu quo. 



A fertile queen can be kept on every frame, 

 by inserting between the frames one of wire- 

 gauze occupying little space, and permitting the 

 combs to be so close that there is no loss of 

 heat; as it is only necessary that the queens 

 should be kept separate, the workers going at 

 will sociably and amicably any where in the 

 hive. Wherever wintering on the summer 

 stand is practicable with such protection as can 

 be conveniently given, I think this hive suitable. 

 With frames 12 in. square, nine are abundant for 

 each colony, filling a space in length of 13 in. 

 A 12 foot hive will easily contain ten colonies 

 or 90 frames. Each end colony has three sides 

 exposed inside of your single hive, and the 

 others only two. Above you can make the cov- 

 ering two inches thick, and around as much as 

 the climate demands, by extending floor and 

 roof, if necessary. 



As a nonswarmer it ought to work well, for 

 comb can be given as fast as it is wanted ; and, 

 what I think is the important point, given be- 

 fore the colony feels at all crowded, or even full. 

 And if the adverse opinion, that the brood 

 comb should be away from the entrance, is cor- 

 rect, the frames can be arranged at will, so that 

 the bees work from either or both ends. The 

 next and last point I shall touch is the cost. 

 Cheapness, if nothing imjjortant is sacrificed to 

 it, is very desirable. A hive 12ft. long, with 

 floor and roof 2 ft. wide, as described takes 



88 ft. lumber, common, planed, $3.50 per 



100 ft, 2.20 



90 frames, at 2c each, 1.80 



Iron rod, }^ in, and nails, 10 



$4.10 

 For outside box for winter, say 30 ft., 75 



Total, $4.85 



Use 16 or 20 foot lumber, and the cost is 

 reduced, but this is cheap enough. 



J. H. Peirce. 

 Dayton, 0., July 12, 1873. 



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